Church Relaunch (June 2020)

Church Relaunch

There are a number of changes that will be in effect to comply with the guidance for worship from the Province of Alberta.  Please CLICK HERE to view this guidance from places of worship.

General Guidelines

To support physical distancing and to reduce the risk of transmission, the church will seek to maintain two metres of physical distance between congregants unless they are members of the same household or cohort family.

Face mask wearing by all attendees of worship services is encouraged as a means of preventing spread of disease.  Masks will be made available for all attendees.  You are also able to bring your own mask (hand made, single use, etc.).

While we are mitigating risks to the best of our ability, attending any church service holds risk of exposure to COVID-19.  If you are in a high risk group, we encourage that you continue to attend our services virtually.  If you choose to attend our services, you are accepting a possibility of being exposed to COVID-19.

Planning to Attend

If you are planning to attend the worship service on a Sunday morning, please contact the church office or use the online form on the church’s website (www.taberefc.ca) to confirm your intention to attend.  The church will offer up to two services to accommodate as many as possible to participate in the worship services.

Please use the online self-screening tool before every visit to the church.  Congregants must not attend in person if they are experiencing the most common symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, fever, shortness of breath, runny nose, or sore throat).

Individuals with symptoms of COVID-19, individuals who have travelled internationally in the last 14 days, and individuals who have had close contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days are prohibited by law from entering in the place of worship

To support public health contact tracing efforts in the event that an attendee tests positive, church leaders will seek to collect the names and contact information of attendees.  Collection of this information is voluntary.  The church retains full ownership of our attendance lists, and will only be asked to share attendance lists with Alberta Health Services if a potential exposure occurs onsite.  These records will only be kept for two weeks.

Entering the Church

Please enter through the main church doors

Ushers and/or volunteers will direct the flow of people through the church.  Please follow the posted signs to ensure proper flow of people and avoiding grouping.  

Remember to observe physical distancing.

Please follow proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette while in the church. These practices include coughing and sneezing into the elbow or a tissue, discarding tissues into a lined garbage bin, washing hands afterwards, and using one of the hand sanitizer stations in the church.

Shaking hands, hugging, touching, or passing items between people compromises the two-metre distance between congregants and must not occur, except between members of the same household or cohort family. Alternatives such as waving, nodding, or bowing is encouraged.

You will be ushered to a seating area for you and your family to help optimize seating.  If you have extended family members or a cohort family, you may be seated in closer proximity to those people to help facilitate sanctuary capacity.

A designated area to place offerings/donations will be visible and accessible in the sanctuary.

Participating in the Worship Service

We ask that parents, families, or caregivers of children younger than two be kept close and not allow them to wander.  Unfortunately, nursery, toddler rooms, and regular children’s ministry will not be offered at this time.  Families will need to remain together for the duration of the worship service.  Since we are unable to provide activity bags for the children, please feel free to bring colouring sheets, note books, etc. for your own children’s use. 

We are not able to offer coffee, tea, or other refreshments, however, you are able to bring your own personal beverages, coffee, water, snacks, or other food/drink items. 

Singing

According to the Government of Alberta COVID-19 Guidance for Places of Worship, singing is considered to be high risk in terms of possible virus transmission. The guidance document notes that, while singing is discouraged, places of worship can take precautions that alter singing in order to prevent risk.

Therefore, in order to best comply with these guidelines, singing will be permitted because we are altering the practice through encouraging the use of face masks, practicing physical distancing, and moving the chairs further away from the front of the stage (away from worship leaders).

Exiting the Church

Ushers and/or volunteers will direct your family when it is time for you to exit. 

Please exit the church through the posted exit doors in the sanctuary.

As you exit, please remember to practice physical distancing outside of the church building.

Thank you for your time and attention to these details.

We understand that this is not exactly “getting back to normal”, but the events around COVID-19 have led us to this point.  All of us have a variety of opinions and emotions about the state of our country and our culture.  As followers of Jesus, we have such an opportunity to demonstrate our discipleship.  

We have the opportunity…

…to consider our public witness in the broader community… 

…to submit to the guidance from our governing authorities… 

…to demonstrate care and respect for all people…

…to honor every person in their opinion, attitude, or emotions as we all work through the implications of COVID-19.

We can proceed remembering these words from Scripture:

²³ “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up. 

²⁴ No one is to seek his own good, but the good of the other person.

³¹ So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. ³² Give no offence to Jews or Greeks or the church of God, ³³ just as I also try to please everyone in everything, not seeking my own benefit, but the benefit of many, so that they may be saved. ^11:1 Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

- 1 Corinthians 10:23–24; 10:31-11:1 (CSB)

We are excited to be able to meet again, and will gladly answer any questions or hear any concerns/suggestions that you have (office@taberefc.ca or 403-223-2214). 

We look forward to seeing and worshiping with you soon!